Mururoa e tatou founder dies

A founder of French Polynesia's nuclear veterans organisation John Doom has died after a long illness at the age of 80.

John Doom witnessed France's first nuclear weapons test in the Pacific in 1966 as a journalist and went on to help found Mururoa e tatou which helps test victims.

John Doom later became the secretary general of the Maohi Protestant Church

He was also the founder of the Tahitian Academy.

In recognition of his role, the French Polynesian president has decided to rename the president's literary prize after John Taaroanui Doom.

John Doom (L), the founder of the association for the victims of nuclear tests called "Mururoa e Tatou", reads the list of the 319 members who died since the creation of the association on 2 July 1966. Photo: AFP